Means for protecting foundation-timbers from rot



(No Model.)

L. NERRETBR. MEANS FOR PROTECTING FOUNDATION TIMBBRS FROM BOT. No. 559,194. Patented Apr. 28, 1896. N

I Wzfizaww: i fmeizforr eammldlr refar UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD NERRETER, OF STANDISII, MICHIGAN.

MEANS FOR PROIECTING FOUNDATION-TIMBERS FROM ROT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 559,194, dated April 28, 1896.

Application filed January 9, 1896. Serial No. 574,873. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD NERRE'IER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Standish, in the county of Orenac and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Means for Protecting Foundation-Timbers from Rot, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for protecting foundation-timbers from rot, and has for its object to provide-improved means for preventing moisture from coming in contact with and being absorbed by the foundationtimbers of houses, piers, docks, and the like that are superimposed upon piles, and has for a further object to provide for a circulation of air between the top of the piles and the foundation-timbers supported thereon.

To these ends my invention consists in the features and in the construction or arrangement of parts hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

wherein- Figure 1 is vertical sectional view of a pile with a portion of a structure superimposed thereon, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a sill with my improved metallic cap applied thereto and the upper portion of one of the piles, illustrating the ventilatinggroove. I

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates one of a series of piles which are driven into the ground and which serve as a foundation for a house, pier, or other superstructure; 2, one of the sills of such superstructure; 3, the flooring thereof, and 4 one of the walls of such structure.

For the sake of brevity I will describe only one of the protective caps or plates, it being understood that in practice there will be as many protective caps or plates as there are piles.

Secured to the under side of the sill 2 is a metallic'cap or plate 5, provided with two oppositely-projecting lugs or cars 6, that have perforations 7, through which are adapted to be driven spikes or bolts 8, by means of which the said cap or plate is adapted to be attached to the sill. The said cap or plate is provided with two downwardly-depending segmental flanges, that are adapted to fit around the upper end of the pile, spaces being formed between the adjacent ends of said flanges for the purpose hereinafter described. Formed in the top of the pile 1 is a transverse groove 9, the opposite ends of which groove are designed to register with the spaces formed between the adjacent ends of the flanges, whereby a free circulation of air is permitted between the top of the pile and the protective cap or plate.

As before stated, there will be as many caps or plates used as there are piles, and each of said caps or plates will be attached to the under side of the sills or stringers. By these means the moisture ascending the piles by capillary attraction is prevented from coming in contact with the sills or stringers, whereby the latter are protected against rot. This result is further aided by forming the described groove in the top of the pile and forming the cap in the manner shown, so that an unobstructed passage is provided for the circulation of air between the top of the pile and the cap or plate. Said cap or plate may be of cast or sheet iron, as it is not designed to strengthen either the pile or sill, but merely as a preventive against moisture being absorbed by the sill from the pile; but by mak ing the caps of material sufficiently rigid they will also serve to maintain the sills and the piles in their proper relative positions.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A cap for the end of a pile, consisting of a flat, metallic plate to cover the top of the pile, said plate being provided with flanges at its edge which hang downward against the vertical face of the pile, and with lugs projecting in the plane of the plate to enable the latter to be attached to a sill resting on the plate, and the flanges being removed in the lines of said lugs, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, 5

my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEONARD NERRETER. lVitnesses:

H. A. CHAMBERLAIN, O. O. DECKER. 

